Kankakee Times

In a Sept. 20 Facebook post, Rep. Thomas M. Bennett (R-Watseka) shared news of Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke's impending retirement.

"Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice announces retirement,” Bennett posted.

In his Facebook post, Bennett shared a link to a State Journal-Register article on Burke's retirement announcement. The paper wrote that "A Chicago native, Burke started her legal career in 1987 as judge to the Court of Claims and received several appointments before joining the Supreme Court in 2006. She won both of her elections in 2008 and 2018, receiving 81% of the vote in the latter election."

In her statement announcing her retirement, Burke said: "When the Illinois Supreme Court convened in Springfield for the September Term, I informed my colleagues that I will be retiring from the court effective December 1, 2022. The decision to retire was not an easy one. However, after having been blessed to serve as a Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court for the past sixteen years, and as Chief Justice for the past three years, the race has been run and it is time to pass the gavel to a successor. As a young girl, I never imagined that someday I would become a lawyer or serve on Illinois' highest court. My goals were much simpler. I loved athletics, art, working with children, and twirling a baton with the St. Rita High School Marching Band. Yet, ironically, it was the pursuit of these goals that led me to where I am today." 

Further in the statement, Burke wrote: "I gratefully acknowledge that any achievements I may have made could not have been realized without the assistance and support of others. I thank, first and foremost, my family - my husband, Ed, who has been at my side through 54 years of marriage, and our children, Jennifer, Ed Jr., Emmett (deceased), Sarah, and Travis, and our nine grandchildren - for the sacrifices they have made for me and for being constant sources of love and encouragement."

The Supreme Court has constitutional authority to fill interim judicial vacancies and has appointed First District Appellate Justice Joy V. Cunningham to fill the seat vacated by Chief Justice Burke. Justice Cunningham, whose term is effective Dec. 1, 2022, through Dec. 2, 2024, will be the second Black woman to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court. The first, Justice Lisa Holder White, was appointed earlier this year.